UPDATE: Cougar helicopter returns to base again after indicator light comes on

A Cougar helicopter en route to the SeaRose FPSO today with 10 passengers onboard conducted a precautionary return to base after an indicator light came on.

It’s the same helicopter that made a precautionary return for the same reason on Thursday.

The aircraft was approximately 17 miles from St. John's today when a FADEC 2 fault caution illuminated for number 2 engine.

FADEC (Full authority digital engine control) is a system consisting of a digital computer and its related accessories that control all aspects of aircraft engine performance.

The crew elected to return to base to have maintenance investigate. After commencing turn-around the illumination was sporadic. The aircraft landed safely and without further incident.

No safety of flight issue was present at anytime. Maintenance crews investigated and are currently replacing the FADEC on the aircraft.

•••

(Earlier story)

A Cougar helicopter with 12 passengers onboard made a precautionary return to base on Thursday, the C-NLOPB announced in an incident bulletin.

The bulletin states: “The aircraft was en route to the Terra Nova FPSO and was approximately 14 miles from St. John's when a FADEC 2 fault caution illuminated for number 2 engine. The crew elected to return to base to have maintenance investigate. After commencing turn-around the fault cleared. The aircraft landed safely and without further incident. No safety of flight issue was present at anytime.”

Recent comments

with all do respect, there was a crash but i would feel safer with cougar than driving on the road here!! The only reason this is kept up is because they new about the problem!! BUT remember they had a few months to fix it!! As bad as it is accidents happpens

A Cougar helicopter with 12 passengers onboard made a precautionary return to base on Thursday....No safety of flight issue was present at anytime.” Seems to me to be a play on words, and a bit of PR prancing. 'No safety flight issue .....but, made a precautionary return....WHY! Why play with double-talk. A FADEC 2 fault caution illuminated for number 2 engine...I guess that was a routine observation!...then why the caution light? Please stop trying to sugar-coat the fact that a warning light came on! Please stop the sugar coating. A helicopter, is not a cruiser...it drops. Perfect decision to return to base ASAP.. perfect call. Leave the sugar-coating where it belongs...in a bag, or on a cake! I don't mean to be ' royal pain', but a warning light comes on....Ocean Ranger comes to my mind. I'm sure, many of the passengers weren't doing crosswords on the way back.
I think my comment is fair.